Batting

The Belmont Abbey softball team lost twice to Peach Belt foes on the second day of the Cougar Classic, hosted by Columbus State. Belmont Abbey dropped its first game to Montevallo 13-5 and to Young Harris by a 9-1 score, both in six innings. The Crusaders are now 3-6 on the year.

After Montevallo cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first, the Crusaders lead rose to 5-2 on Marietta's solo homer, her first of the year and the sophomore's third of her career.

From there, it was all Montevallo, however as it erupted for four in the third, two more in the fifth and one more in the sixth to end the game there with a 13-5 victory.

Nikki Faust fell to 1-2 in the loss as she surrendered six runs on nine hits in two and two-thirds innings.

Jana Armstrong earned the win with Jostlyn Higgerson earning the save. The Crusaders totaled ten hits as Marietta, McPeak and Starnes all had two hits with Marietta driving in two runs.

In game two the Crusaders were again the designated visiting team as Young Harris scored the first five runs of the game, scoring one in the first and four more in the third to open up a 5-0 lead.

Belmont Abbey plated its run in the fourth on a solo homer by McPeak, her third of the year.

Young Harris responded with four runs in the sixth to end the game.

Jeanie Perucci went the distance in the circle for Young Harris to earn the victory, as she fanned eight in six innings, allowing one run on five hits. Alyssa Buell took the loss after yielding five runs on six hits in two and one-thirds innings, walking two.

Alexis Pereiro led the Crusaders with two hits as the Abbey totaled five on in the game.

Belmont Abbey wraps up play in Columbus twice on Sunday, as the Crusaders take on Georgia College at 12:30 followed by a contest against Columbus State at 2:00 p.m.